Dele Olaosebikan
AUTHOR and social justice crusader Barrister Dele Farotimi was today granted Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) by a Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
This piece of news was made public today by the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, via his X.com (formerly Twitter) handle.
“The first hurdle was crossed. #DeleFarotimi was granted bail of N50 million surety in the like sum with someone with landed property. The case was adjourned to 29 January 29 2025,” the tweet read.
In another tweet, Sowore noted that Farotimi’s “farcical trial” would continue tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Magistrate Court in the state capital, “over a non-existent offence in Ekiti law books.”
“We’ve asked the Attorney-General of Ekiti State to discontinue the trial immediately,” Sowore added.
It will be recalled that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) last week filed a fresh 12-count charge of defamation against Mr Farotimi, despite the pendency of a similar suit at a magistrate court also in Ekiti State.
On 4th December 2024, NPF arraigned the rights activist before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court presided over by Abayomi Adeosun.
Farotimi, who was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command, was brought to the court at about 10:25 am Wednesday.
The activist lawyer is being prosecuted on a 16-count charge of defamation of character against a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).
He was accused of having maligned and defamed the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book titled, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’
Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all charges. His counsel, Dayo Akeredolu, sought bail on self-recognition, but the police prosecutor, Samson Osun, argued for his remand pending further investigation.
Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun rejected the bail application, remanding Farotimi in custody until 10 December.
The instant suit was premised on an interview Farotimi granted Seun Okinbaloye via a podcast where he allegedly made scathing remarks about the person of Chief Afe Babalola and his alleged corrupt influence on the judiciary.
Some of the counts read, “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCOA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.”
COUNT II: ” That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” with the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT III: ” That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 2nd December 2024 intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held Online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k6HzdQXLEK) where you stated that: “It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media